She’s working on beating the opposition at their own game:
The House health care bill is getting cheaper, but Democrats aren’t boasting just yet. Because when they ultimately break silence the hope is to present conservative Democrats in both chambers with a bill that will walk the walk of fiscal responsibility–including a public option, which is projected to save the government billions.
As always, the legislative process is unpredictable, and the Senate is operating in isolation from the House. But with the public option potentially in the balance, Speaker Pelosi’s goal is this: present conservative Democrats in both chambers with a Hobson’s choice between a public option bill and a potentially moreexpensive Senate bill that may have no public option at all.
“In other words,” says Ezra Klein:
Pelosi is going to make a policy argument. The hope is to get a CBO score showing strong public option not only makes the bill cheaper, but also allows you to have better subsidies and a more generous benefits package.
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